Monark Reviews
Monark is a smart game. It knows it, and it wants you to know it too. Some may well find that it's even pretentious. But it’s also in so many ways a boundary-pushing and innovative experience, and one that I imagine will be unique for a very long time to come. Putting aside the disappointment that comes from realising that it could have attacked with its themes more, I don’t think there is any other way that the creative team could have delivered on a more coherent and compelling vision and, really, it is experiences like Monark that keep me interested in this medium. Don’t let this one pass you by, folks.
Monark is a solid start to a promising aspect of JRPG games filled with horror elements. It tackles heavy issues with its characters. Monark is a solid blend of Tactical RPG with JRPG leveling mechanics. It is an enjoyable game with difficult rewarding battles.
The amazing thing about these moment to moment battles is that they always end in euphoria and rarely cause fatigue. The sense of victory that comes from figuring out the next location to explore or that final blow on a boss always provides a boost of energy before the next challenge. In every way possible, Monark succeeds in providing an amazing experience that always keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Monark is an excellent JRPG with a dark and appealing story and an incredible soundtrack, that it's perfect for every fan of the turn-based strategy games.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Being Monark an RPG developed by ex-producers of Shin Mengami Tensei, it's natural to notice some similarities. Particularly regarding the school theme, the mute main character or pacts with demons. What we emphasize in Monark is exactly the opposite. Namely, all the changes that were considered in order to give a breath of fresh air and, brilliantly, provide a new direction to an already very defined genre. So Monark presents itself as something innovative that only lacks some graphic polish, but for fans of the style, they will certainly be able to suffer from some "Gluttony" to taste this game! We fully believe that there is a silver lining for a Monark 2 and we're hopping for that to happen, so that we can present the developers with the "sin" of Pride.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Monark is a JRPG that understands its audience all too well while also standing out in its own right. It has the right balance of being a familiar experience while also keeping you invested in the journey.
I have loved my Monark experience through and through, bumps be damned, and I would absolutely recommend this title to anyone who likes Shin Megami-style RPGs – and even those who might not, because I think the world and characters are that interesting.
Monark has to be one of my favorite JRPGs I have reviewed so far and I love the tactical gameplay that encourages you to change up your play style depending on what characters you have, and like chess, keep your main character alive, like the King. I found only one true annoyance for me while investigating the mist areas – you can get a phone call to go to the Otherworld and fight level 90 enemies.
With an interesting story and solid gameplay, Monark is an excellent addition to FuRyu's RPGs. Despite having some flaws in the level design, it is a consistent title from the company and an RPG that any fan of the genre should explore.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Monark's creepy setting, tactical combat and banging soundtrack is well worth experiencing, but prepare for some obtuse puzzles.
Monark delivers a satisfying JRPG experience, with a creative and unique battle system and creepy demon-filled world. But a weak story and characters prevent the game from truly delivering something stellar.
It may not be the next great JRPG, but if you’ve been looking for a tactics style game that provides a decent challenge, I’m going to recommend picking Monark up when your budget allows.
Monark delivers a refreshing JRPG approach with a mystery filled narrative and great turn-based strategy gameplay. A fulfilling experience that stands out from many JRPGs in the past few years. For those coming from The Caligula Effect 2, Monark is worth taking a look at!
This is a game that will provide you something you can keep coming back to for relaxation. This is a comfort food JRPG. This is a game you can put on and just grind away to build your party, with the enemies growing alongside you to ensure there’s enough challenge.
Monark brings me both surprise and disappointment, the depth of the story and gameplay are unique, but the combat is boring, making it not as good as expected.
Review in Chinese | Read full review
Seven years after the launch of Lost Dimension, FuRyu and studio Lancarse are back on the scene to impress JRPG fans with a dark tactician. Although the influence of Shin Megami Tensei and Persona 5 in particular is evident on the narrative level, MONARK has conquered us with a dramatic, crazy and sometimes brutal story, as well as able to make us reflect on the most hidden and primitive desires of mankind.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Our feelings at the end of our experience with MONARK is to be in front of a two-faced work. The JRPG long surprised us thanks to its serious and never trivial plot in addressing topics already seen and a really impressive care of the psychological aspect throughout the gaming experience. At the same time, as the hours passed, some technical and gameplay flaws came out on which it’s difficult to skip over.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Monark is a slow and frustrating RPG over several hours of gameplay. His Ego system is his most interesting point, along with his riddles, although everything is diluted with some uninteresting characters and a way of playing that gets stagnant. At first it seems "more of the same", but after a while it is pleasant to play.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Monark is a turn based JRPG that brings to the table a lot of longevity and fun, especially for anime lovers, but unfortunately fails to reach its potential due to a technical department that is simply too dated.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Monark is a game that boasts a solid foundation with some really good ideas and fun combat. It’s lack of polish, however, means this game is likely destined to be more of a cult favorite as opposed to a big hit. It’s a shame as the story alone is worth the journey. If you like an old-school 3D JRPG with interesting gameplay and don’t mind budget visuals, Monark is one ego trip worth indulging in.